Former Vice President Mike Pence is striving to establish a distinct conservative identity within the Republican Party, often through pointed criticism of his former boss, Donald Trump, a strategy that risks alienating the powerful MAGA base. A recent point of friction arose when Pence publicly denounced remarks Trump made during a visit to Saudi Arabia, labeling them a “disservice” to U.S. veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. On NBC’s Meet the Press, Pence responded to Trump’s Riyadh comments, where the former president questioned past U.S. interventions in the Middle East. Trump asserted that modern cities like Riyadh were built by local populations, not Western “nation-builders,” who he claimed “wrecked far more nations than they built.” This stance, against “endless foreign conflicts,” was voiced during a regional tour that notably excluded Israel.
Despite acknowledging the overall success of Trump’s Middle East trip, Pence specifically criticized the comments made in Saudi Arabia. He stated, “I’ve never been a fan of American presidents criticizing America on foreign soil.” Pence found it egregious that Trump questioned the “global war on terror” as “nation-building and interventionist,” arguing it dishonored “generations of Americans who wore the uniform.” The speech’s location in Saudi Arabia—home to 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers—made Trump’s remarks particularly “unfortunate” in Pence’s view. Trump had also targeted “nation-builders,” “neo-cons,” and “liberal non-profits” for perceived failures in Kabul and Baghdad, a position resonating with his base.
Despite a public falling out after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Pence seeks to be a “constructive force for the conservative agenda” in a potential future Trump administration, offering selective support based on “principles first. It’s not personal.” This allows for strategic challenges. For example, Advancing American Freedom, Pence’s political action committee, spent nearly $1 million opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potential nomination as Health and Human Services Secretary. Pence criticized this as a “dramatic departure from 50 years of strong pro-life leadership at HHS,” citing Kennedy’s abortion rights stance.
Addressing other Republicans’ reluctance to challenge Trump publicly, Pence asserted his readiness for “lonely battles,” stating, “you have to be willing to step out and lead.” He hopes his actions “encourage” others to stand on conservative principles, especially on abortion, framing his conduct as “calling balls and strikes” with “integrity to principle.” While critical on specific policy, Pence also praised the Trump administration’s initial actions, commending the reversal of Biden’s border policies and the re-establishment of measures that “secured the border.” This dual approach underscores Pence’s effort to maintain a principled conservative identity within the Republican Party’s complex dynamics.
